The Fitzwilliam Museum has recently acquired one of the finest collections ever formed of Norman and Angevin coins dating from 1066 to 1279. It was assembled by Dr William Conte, an American geneticist and a leading authority on Norman coinage. Dr Conte’s aim was to create a representative reference collection of coins in the best-possible condition, in order to illustrate the great variety of portraits and other designs and the mints at which they were struck. The 750 coins include many that are unique or great rarities.

That it could be saved in this way for the nation is due to the very generous grants made by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the National Art Collections Fund.